Scaffold



June 19, 1956 D. BRATTLAND SCAFFOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1953 INVENTOR BRATTLAND DANIEL ATTORNEYS June 19, 1956 D. BRATTLAND SCAFFOLD 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 30, 1953 m D E vN WA L W A R B L E N A 0 mam ATTORNEYS SCAFFOLD Daniel Brattland, Fargo, N. Dak. Application July 30, 1953, Serial No. 371,217

Claims. (Cl. 304-2) This invention relates to scaffolding for use in various construction and repair operations and consists more particularly in new and useful improvements in a combination assembly including a platform, platform supporting brackets, and bracing means which are adjustable as a unit, with respect to the uprights or standards.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a scaffold structure which is adaptable for use in practically any conceivable location and under what would otherwise be considered extremely difficult conditions of installation. To this end, I provide a scaffold which is not only adjustable to meet varying ground level conditions, but wherein all of the bracing structure is confined to the elevated area immediately adjacent the platform and its brackets, omitting the usual cross braces which extend at varying points between ground and platform levels. These lower cross braces have been one of the main objectionable features of conventional scaffolds, particularly when installation is required in ob structed locations where accessibility is diflicult.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable scaffold including at least two spaced pairs of uprights, the uprights of each pair being connected intermediate their extremities by a platform supporting bracket assembly including a pair of adjustably connected sleeves for slidably embracing respective uprights, each sleeve and its corresponding upright being connected for vertical adjustment independently of the opposite sleeve and upright of that pair.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable bracket and bracing assembly of this type, wherein the sleeves of each pair are angularly adjustable .with respect to one another so as to permit selected angular adjustment of the spread at the lower or base ends of the uprights, so as to avoid sidewise swaying movement of the assembled scaffold.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved platform supporting bracket assembly wherein the brackets are arranged in opposed pairs, respectively adapted to support a platform along its opposite longitudinal edges, thereby permitting the longitudinal movement of the platform during its placement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket assembly such as above referred to, and including clamping means for locking the platform in a selected position on the opposed supporting brackets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting bracket assembly of this type wherein, in addition to providing lateral angular adjustment of the uprights to avoid side sway, is designed to provide a lougitudinally diverging relationship of the pairs of uprights to avoid end sway.

Still another object of the invention is to provide cable truss means for the platform which in cooperation with the elevated bracing assembly and the base spread arrangement of the uprights, affords an extremely rigid and durable scaffold structure.

With the above and other objects in view which will 2,751,258 Patented June 19, 1956 appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view, partly broken away, illustrating one pair of uprights and their combined platform support and bracing assembly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the platform brackets, showing the adjustable sleeve and bracing means;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view partly in section, showing one form of platform clamping means;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, showing a platform in place between two pairs of uprights and their supporting and bracing assemblies;

Fig. 5 is an end view of an assembled scaffold, illustrating the independent vertical adjustability of the individual uprights of each pair;

Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating in dotted lines, the angular lateral adjustments which are possible by virtue of the improved bracket and bracing assembly; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view showing a platform mounted between two pairs of uprights with permanently inclined platform brackets, illustrating the longitudinal spread at the bases of the uprights.

In the drawings, 10 and 11 generally represented uprights or-standards arranged in pairs, each standard being preferably formed of a series of tubular sections, joined in end to end relation by internal dowels 10a and 11a respectively. The dowels Ma and 11a are welded or otherwise firmly secured in one section and are freely insertable in the adjacent section so that the effective length of each standard can be varied as required.

The tubular sections of each standard are provided with longitudinally spaced openings 12 to facilitate the selected location of the platform supporting bracket assembly as will later appear. These openings 12 are provided throughout the length of each section so that the sections are interchangeable and can be used at any point in the standard.

The improved platform supporting and bracing as sembly is generally represented by the numeral 13 and one such assembly is provided for each pair of uprights 1i311. Each of these assemblies 13 consists of a pair of sleeves 14 and 15 adapted to slidably embrace respective uprights 10 and 11, peripheral openings being provided to receive set screws or bolts 16 adapted to engage complementary openings 12 in respective uprights 10 and 11. Thus, each upright is vertically slidable within its respective sleeve so as to permit its individual adjustment, independently of the opposite upright.

Each of the sleeves 1415 has welded or otherwise rigidly secured to its periphery, a transverse cross member or bracket 17, preferably consisting of an angle iron, the lower horizontal leg of which is directed inwardly toward the corresponding lower leg of the opposite cross member. Thus, each pair of opposed angle irons 17 forms a supporting trackway adapted to slidably engage the opposite longitudinal edges of a platform as hereinafter described more in detail.

The cross members 17 are reinforced and braced by an angular brace member consisting of arms 18 and 19, the upper ends of which are welded to the lower legs of the cross members 17 and their junctions are welded as at 20 to the peripheries of the respective sleeves 14-15. If desired, cross braces 21 may be welded at each end to intermediate points on arms 18 and 19, extending on the opposite sides of the sleeves 14-'15 and welded to the peripheries of the sleeves. This arrangement of supporting cross members and braces aifords a maximum of support for the platform and localizes the support in the desirable area.

As best seen in Fig. 2, each of the sleeves 14-15 is provided on its periphery, immediately beneath the cross member 17, with a vertical connecting ear or fin 22, pivotally supporting the upper end of a diagonal brace 23, the opposite end of which adjustably engages a vertically slotted fin or ear 24, on the opposite sleeve.

The adjusting ears 24 are each provided with a vertical slot 25, one edge of which is formed with a series of vertically spaced notches 26, adapted to receive and support cross pins 27 projecting from the lower ends of each of the crossed, diagonal braces 23. The intermediate portions of each of the diagonal braces 23 are longitudinally slotted as at 28 to slidably receive a transverse screw and lock-nut assembly 29, to permit locking of the crossed braces 23 in any one of several adjusted positions.

The platform 30 in its simplest form, may consist of a single board or plank with its longitudinal edges resting on the lower opposed legs of the cross members 17. It will be noted that the relative adjustability of the opposed sleeve and brace assemblies enables the adaptation of the structure to platforms of varying widths.

The platform 30 as shown in Fig. 3, consists of a pair of longitudinally extending channel members 31, transversely spaced by a series of cross membars 32 which may be in the form of angle home as shown, short lengths of tubing, or any suitable cross supporting structure. The cross members 32 are preferably welded to the inner faces of the webs of opposed channels 31, at longitudinally spaced intervals and at a suitable elevation to support a series of platform treads 33 which may be of metal or simply planks of lumber. Any means may be employed for firmly securing the treads 33 to the cross members 32, so as to form a rigid and dependable platform. As shown in Fig. 3, when the platform is assembled and in place on the supporting brackets, the channels 31 on opposite sides of the platform, engage the corresponding cross members 17 fixed to the respective sleeves 14 and 15.

When the platform has been properly positioned with respect to the spaced pairs of uprights 11, it is preferably clamped in place to prevent relative movement thereof with respect to the supporting brackets. One form of clamp which may be employed in this connection is shown in Fig. 3. Such a clamp consists of upper and lower jaws 34 and 35, respectively adapted to embrace the upper and lower legs of the channels 31. A vertical adjusting bolt 36 is welded at its upper end to the upper jaw 34 and extends downwardly through a suitable opening in the lower jaw 35, its lower end being screw threaded as at 37, to operatively engage complementary internal threads on an adjusting nut 38. in the form shown, the nut 38 is of the wing type having transversely extending gripping wings 39. When the nut 33 is screwed onto the bolt 36, it engages against the under side of the lower jaw 35 so that the channel 31 is firmly gripped between the two jaws with the cross member 17 interposed between the channel and lower jaw, so thateach of the opposed channels 31 is firmly locked in place with respect to its corresponding supporting cross member 17.

It will thus be seen that with this improved structure and relationship of parts, the platform 30 and therespecti e pairs of sleeves and bracing assemblies form a unit which is vertically adjustable with respect to the uprights iti11 and that each individualupright is separately adjustable as to vertical relation with its sleeve, comptetely independent of any other upright. Furthermore; the transverse base spread or angular relationship of the uprights of each pair may be adjusted independbase spread for the uprights. However, a similar effect may be obtained with truly right angular cross members 17, by simply inserting wedges between the under sides of the edges of the platform and the corresponding ends 7 of the cross members or supports 17.

It should also be noted that if desired, the lower extremeties of the uprights may be provided with casters 40 as shown in Fig. l, particularly when the scaifold is to be used for interior operations such as painting and paperhauging, where it is desirable to move the scaifold from place to place during one operation.

With relatively short sections of platform, additional support in the nature of trusses is usually not necessary. However, with extended platforms a greater degree of rigidity and safety can be accomplished by providing cable trusses on the underside of the platform. In Fig. 4 I have shown one adaptation of this principle in connection with the present invention.

Here it will be seen that longitudinally spaced lugs 41 are welded or otherwise secured to the underside of each of the platform channels 31. A cable 42 is stretchedbetween each of these lugs and at suitable points intermediate the ends of the cables 42, they are supported by cross braces 43 which depend from and are secured to the channels 31.

In the use of my improved scaifold structure, any desired number of pairs of uprights may be employed, depending upon the length of the platform to be used. When the proper elevation is determined, the sleeves 14 and 15 are locked in their desired positions on their respective uprights by means of the bolts or screws 16. The lower ends of the uprights of each pair are then spread apart to the desired angle and the cross pins 27 at the lower ends of the diagonal braces 23 are inserted in the proper notches 26 to maintain the adjusted angle. The cross members 23 are then locked in the adjusted position by tightening the locking assembly 29.

The platform 30 with its edges resting on the cross members 17 is adjusted to the proper position by sliding on the cross members and its longitudinal edges are then locked in place by the clamp jaws 3435, upon the tightening of the lock nuts 38 on the bolts 36.

Figs. 5 and 6 clearly illustrate the adaptability and maneuverability of this improved scattold structure. For example, Fig. 5 illustrates an installation where it is desired to work on the outer wall of a building B which is surrounded by a very irregular ground surface G. Here it will be seen that the leg 10 of a pair of uprights is positioned in a depression in the ground while the other leg 11 has been elevated with respect to its sleeve 15 to accommodate a hump which occurs at the very point where it is desired to locate that upright.

Fig. 6 shows the various transverse angles at which the pairs of uprights 10 and 11 may be adjusted. When working at high elevations, it is naturally desirable to have a wider base spread at the lower ends of the uprights or standards 10-11 as the danger of side sway is more acute, while when working at lower levels, a lesser angle of base spread will suflice.

From the foregoing, it is believed that my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of structure without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims. I claimz.v

1. An adjustable scatiold including at least two spaced pairsiof uprights, the uprights of each pair being connected intermediate their extremities by a platform supporting assembly, comprising a pair of substantially vertical sleeves adapted to slid: hly embrace respective uprights, opposed parallel cross members fixed to the inner sides of the sleeves of each pair, adjacent the upper ends of the latter, a platform supported at its opposite longitudinal edges on the opposed cross members of each pair, crossed, diagonal braces respectively pivoted at one end to the corresponding ends of the opposed inner sides of a sleeve of each pair, means for slidably connecting the cross braces with respect to each other, a series of vertically spaced connecting means on the opposite ends of each of said sleeves, selectively engageable by the respective opposite ends of said diagonal braces, whereby the angular relation of the uprights and sleeves of each pair may be varied, said means for slidably connecting the cross braces coacting with said braces for locking the latter and the sleeves in selected position.

2. An adjustable scaffold having its bracing confined to the region of the platform, including at least two spaced pairs of tubular upri hts, an adjusting and supporting assembly comprising a sleeve slidably embracing each upright and arranged in corresponding pairs, the sleeves of each pair being provided with inwardly directed, opposed cross members, jointly forming a platform supporting raclcway, interconnecting diagonal braces respectively pivoted at one end to the correspondin ends of opposed sleeves, means for slidably connectthe cross braces with respect to each other, a series of vertically spaced connecting means on the opposite ends of each of said sleeves, selectively engageable by the respective opposite ends of said diagonal braces, to permit angular adjustment of the uprights and sleeves, a platform supported on the cross members of each pair of sleeves, and means for slidably connecting the cross braces, coacting therewith for locking said sleeves at selected elevations on said uprights, said means for locking said braces and sleeves in selected angular relation.

3. In a scaflfold, including at least two spaced pairs of standards, an adjustable platform supporting assembly for each of said pairs of standards, comprising a pair of opposed, horizontal platform supporting arms, separate- 1y mounted on substantially vertical sleeves, said sleeves respectively adapted to slidably engage opposed standards, cross braces respectively pivoted at one end to the corresponding ends of opposed sleeves, means slidably connecting the cross braces with respect to each other, vertically adjustable means connecting the opposite ends of respective cross braces to the corresponding opposite ends of said sleeves for relative angular and lateral manipulation, and means for locking each sleeve at a selected elevation on its standard, said means for slidably connecting the cross braces, coacting therewith for locking the cross braces and sleeves in selected position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including a platform supported at its opposite longitudinal edges on 0pposed horizontal arms, and means securing said platform to said arms, whereby said assembly, including the platform, is vertically and angularly adjustable as a unit.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each horizontal arm consists of an angle iron having its lower flange directed inwardly toward the corresponding flange of the opposite angle iron, to jointly form a supporting trackway for the platform.

6. A scaffold, including at least two spaced pairs of tubular standards, an adjustable platform supporting assembly for each pair of standards, comprising a pair of opposed, horizontal platform supporting arms, separately mounted on substantially vertical, tubular sleeves, said sleeves, respectively adapted to slidably engage opposed standards, cross braces respectively pivoted at one end to the corresponding ends of opposed sleeves, means slidably connecting the cross braces with respect to each other, vertically adjustable means connecting the opposite ends of respective cross braces to the corresponding opposite ends of said sleeves for relative angular and lateral maipulation, and means for locking each sleeve at a predetermined elevation on its standard, said means for slidably connecting the cross braces, coacting therewith for locking the cross braces and sleeves in selected position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, including a platform supported at its opposite longitudinal edges on opposed horizontal arms, and means securing said platform to said arms, whereby said assembly including said platform, is vertically and angularly adjustable as a unit.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each horizontal arm consists of an angle iron having its lower flange directed i wardly toward the corresponding flange of the opposite angle iron, to jointly form a supporting trackway for the platform.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each horizontal arm is connected to its sleeve at a central point and reinforced by a pair of angle braces fixed adjacent the ends of the arm and converging at a connecting point on the sleeve.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein each tubular upright is formed in separable sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,014,554 Zent Jan. 9, 1912 1,832,537 Erwin Nov. 17, 1931 2,043,498 Uecker June 9, 1936 2,534,682 Robishaw Dec. 19, 1950 2,561,599 Squire July 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 86,521 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1920 

